Develop an Abundant Mind - Part 5 of 8

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The keys to developing an abundant mindset are found in Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.�

Adam Clarke (1762–1832), the great British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar, translates the word given as “lovely� to mean: “Whatsoever is amiable on its own account and on account of its usefulness to others, whether in your conduct or conversation.� Developing an abundant mind includes the idea of thinking of things that are helpful or useful to others. This may include deeds or finances or simply an encouraging word, but they all involve a sacrifice of your time.

If you have a poverty mentality, you see time as something that could be better spent in pursuit of natural abundance, which you also see as being in short supply. An abundant mind is looking for ways to enhance the lives of others, whether materially, practically or emotionally. It knows that time given up in this activity will be multiplied back in other ways to replace with increase what was given up.

Years ago, I was flying cross country and feeling limited on time and resources, so I wanted to use my travel time to work on a proposal. The Lord spoke to me that the person next to me was unsaved and I needed to engage him in conversation. I dismissed the thought as not being from God and proceeded to work. Moments later, the man engaged me and after a brief exchange, asked me what it meant to be a born again believer. I may be slow, but I’m not stupid. I closed my computer and spent the rest of the flight sharing my faith and answering questions with that man and his mother.

My wife picked me up at the airport and handed me a letter from a Fortune 100 company inviting me to speak to their executives at an upcoming event. While I was being useful to one of God’s lost children, He had supplied me with something I may never have gotten on my own.